The Perfect Mother by Nina Darnton Read Free Book Online Page B

heard about this. Your dad is a lawyer. And you have one of Spain’s best criminal lawyers. They’ll advise you.”
    Emma was through talking. “Yeah. Of course. Anyway, I’m tired; I need to get some sleep.” She took a last sip of wine and started to get up, but Jennifer stopped her.
    “In a minute,” she said. “What do you mean that Paco knows about the police? Is he a lawyer?”
    Emma laughed contemptuously. “No, he’s not a
lawyer
, Mom.”
    “A policeman?”
    “No. No. No. None of those things, none of what you and Dad could understand. That’s what I meant. He knows about the police because he’s always avoiding them, and he avoids them because he’s been in jail and he knows how bad the conditions are,” she blurted with a touch of pride, staring at her mother belligerently.
    The other shoe had dropped. Jennifer nodded slowly and replied carefully, trying to keep her voice calm. “What has he been in jail for?”
    “Nothing. I’m not sure. Probably disturbing the peace. He’s a social activist, so they hate him. He’s brilliant. He comes from this really poor family. His father is Moroccan and his mother is from a little town near Granada.”
    “Where did you meet him?”
    “At school.” Emma stood up. “Let’s go. I really need to get some sleep if I’m going to have to face Dad in the morning.”
    “Face him? He’s coming to help you, Emma.”
    “Yeah, I know. Let’s go.” She turned abruptly and Jennifer scrambled to follow.
    “I have to pay, Emma. Wait a minute.”
    “La cuenta, por favor,” Emma called to the waitress, the last words she spoke that evening.

CHAPTER 6
    J ennifer and Emma were already seated in Raul’s office drinking espresso when Mark arrived. He was carrying the morning edition of the
Diario de Sevilla
, which he had picked up at the airport but, not knowing Spanish, was unable to read. Another photo of Emma covered the front page, this time an informal snapshot probably taken by some friends. She was sitting on the steps at the Triana Bridge surrounded by other laughing students, smiling flirtatiously at the photographer. She looked beautiful, young, and very happy.
    Jennifer rose to greet Mark and they embraced warmly. She introduced him to José and they shook hands. Emma hung back a bit, looking a little embarrassed, before she went to him and submitted to his bear hug. When he released her he held her at arm’s length to get a better look.
    “Honey, how are you? How are you bearing up?” he asked.
    “I’m okay, Dad.” Her voice was controlled, a little distant. “This isn’t the way I meant to show you Seville. I’m sorry.”
    “Forget that. Let’s just focus on getting you out of here.”
    He turned to the lawyer, dropping the newspaper on his desk. “I see the local papers wasted no time. What does it say?”
    “I read it earlier. It’s mostly a request for the Good Samaritan to appear. It recounts Emma’s story about him to the police and repeats numerous offers to reward him if he shows his face. Today the paper promises to cover his legal expenses. On the whole, the incentive is not harmful to our case and, who knows”—he shrugged, closing his eyes momentarily and extending his palms upward—“it may encourage the man to appear.”
    “I don’t think so,” Emma said.
    “We will see,” José murmured. He offered Mark a seat and some espresso and Mark accepted.
    “What worries me is the story inside the paper,” Emma said. “Did you read the piece on the guy who tried to rape me?”
    “You mean the murder victim,” José added.
    Emma didn’t answer.
    “I read it,” he continued. “The reporter has interviewed dozens of fellow students and friends who maintain that this boy was incapable of such aggressive behavior. He was a good student and they claim he was respectful toward women. They can’t believe he would force a woman into her apartment at knifepoint and try to rape her.”
    “Well, that’s exactly what he